“Sorry,” said Colin.
Colin laughed, and without the smallest touch of ill-humour, gave it up and turned to Violet.
“We’ll have our game in that case, shall we, Vi?” he asked. “Father, may we have a car to take us down?”
“By all means,” said Philip. “Hester and I will come down with you, go for a drive, and pick you up again. You’d like that, Hester?”
“Oh, but that will leave Raymond alone....” began Colin.
Raymond broke in: “That’s just what I want you to do with me,” he snapped.
Colin got up. “I’ll just go and see granny for a minute,” he said. “I told her I would look in on her after lunch....”
Philip had listened to Colin’s advances and Raymond’s rebuffs with a growing resentment at his elder son’s behaviour, and as the others went out he beckoned him to stop behind.
“Look here, Raymond,” he said when the door had closed. “I had to speak to you after breakfast for your rudeness to me, and all lunch-time you’ve been as disagreeable as you knew how to be to your brother. And if you think I’m going to stand these sulks and ill-temper, you’ll very speedily find yourself mistaken. Colin did all that a good-natured boy could to give you a chance of making yourself decently agreeable, and every time he tried you snapped and growled at him.”
“Do you wish me to answer you or not, sir?” asked Raymond.